Metallic face mask and process of making same



INVENTDR G. BENJAMIN May.28,-.l929.'

METALLIC FACE MASK AND =PROCESS OF MAKING SAME Filed Jan. 16, 1928 May 28, 1929.

METALLIC mcsmisx AND PROCESS ,o'F MAKING sum 6. BENJAMIN 1,715,027,-

Filed Jan'. Is, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a B-Y I I [24 I. 'Arromiiis ay 2s; lea.

Patented GRETA BENJAMIN, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

METALLIC FACE MASK AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME.

Application filed January 16, 1928. Serial No. 246,943.

such a mask, which will be rigid and suitable for conducting electricity, but which will act not only as an electrotherapeutic device but also as a means for exercising a certain amount of pressure-upon certain selected parts of the human face wheresuch pressure is sought to smooth out wrinkles, sagging skin, etc. 7 One of the objects of this invention is to produce a face mask which can be used as an electrode for' a diathermy current to produce heat and at the same time exercise a mild pressure on certain selected parts of the face wherever desired;

Another object of this invention is to produce a face mask which will be simple and cheap to manufacture, and which when completed will be rigid and suitable for conducting electricity and act as an electrotherto produce one of my face masks which-is apeutic device.

A further object of this; invention is to produce a face mask which is primarily made by placing plaster 'of Paris upon the.

face of a patient and removing it when set and placing a contact in place to receive ,an electrical wire, after. which the entire surface of the mask is electroplated with copper, silver, gold, brass or other metal to give it.strength, conductivity and a surface which can be easily cleaned.

A further object of this invention is to produce a face mask for use in connection with diathermic treatments which will not shrink or stretch due to age or weather conditions;

With these and other objects in view, to

be more fully set forth hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel-construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified; in the operation and construction herein described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 1 v

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the inas illustrated 'vent ion is not to be restricted to the-exact details of' this disclosure, and the latter,

therefore, is to be understood from an illus-' trative,- rather than a restrictive standpoint. The invention will first be described in are protected by a covering of'tissue' paper;

Fig. 4 illustrates, diagrammatically the electrical circuit with. which my face mask isused;

Fig. 5 illustrates the firststep necessary the placing of a sheet of rubber over the patients face; and

Fig. 6 illustrates with plaster of Paris with the exception.

of the lower end of the nose through which '80 Numeral 1 represents the mask in its com-' Y the patient breathes.

pleted form, 2, the electroplated metal .surface, and 3, the plaster of. Paris into which the contact 4 'is inserted, the purposev of which is more fully described'hereinafter.

The following is a description of the v process of making the mask and the'methodof using it:

thin rubber- 5 is slit and stretched over the the patients face covered from lodging inthehair or ears and to expose only those parts which are. to receive diathermic treatment. when the mask is'completed. A thin coating-of v'aselinefor any other suitable fatty substance is then applied to the parts exposed; ,a generous. amount of which is appliedg'to the eyebrows. A piece of tissue paper 6 is placed over each eye connectlon with the drawings, where simi- As illustratedin Fig. 5 a sheet of very in'Fig. 3; the eyes being in the closed position. Should there be any particular -pl aces 011 the patients face which will require more pressure than the rest of the face during a diathermic treatment, they are marked as at? in Fig. 3 by means of a greasy coloring matter such as a lip stick. After the face has been thus prepared a quantity of plaster of Paris 3 is mixed w ith [I water; a small amountof salt being added to it to quicken the process of setting the plaster. As soon as the mixture has become semi-liquid, it is applied to the ez cposed percontact or terminal 4 is pushed into the plascoating of vaseline. mask, the inner surface is then prepared ter of Paris, the setting of which firmly holds it in position. When the plaster of 'Parisbec'omes hard, which requires but two or three minutes time, the mask is easily removed from the patients face due to the Having removed the according to the individual needs which were marked with lip stick. The plaster of Paris absorbs a small amount of the lip stick which indicates the portions of the inner surface which are to be built up in order that more pressure may be given those parts when the mask is completed? and again applied to the face for a treatment. To these marked portions of the inner surface a small amount of plaster of Paris, clay or other suitable material is added. This added layer is about one-half to one mm. in

thickness. 'Any small holes that may be present in this surface are also 'filledin and then the entire surface is smoothed down by means of sandpaper. When the plaster of Paris mask is entirely dried out it is entirely covered with graphite and then electroplated with copper, silver, gold, brass or other metal. This metal plating gives the mask additional rigidity and makes it a suitable electrode for therapeutic purposes.

The plated mask'will perfectly fit the patients' face and will exercise a mild. pressure only 'onthose parts where it was predetermined in'its making. If it isso de-' sired a light pressure canbe applied .to the entire face by fastening the mask in position by means of an elastic bandage. v

The process of giving a patient a diathermic treatment as illustrated in Fig. 4 is as follows:

The patient lies upon a couch 8 with a lead electrode 9 pressing against his or her back. A wire 10. connects this electrode 9 to a source of current 11 which in turn is connected to the variable resistance 12 having the wire 13 connected thereto. The com-.

pleted mask is then placed upon the faceof the patient and ad usted and the end of the .wire 13 is connected to the'contact 4.

The current is then allowed to pass through the resistance 12which is varied in accordance with the amount necessary for that particular patient receiving the treatment. The electric current passes from the entire inner surface of the mask, through the body to the lead electrode 9 which completes the circuit. The body acts as a resistance and heat is created especially at the mask, because this is the smaller one of the two electrodes. The penetrating current heats and stimulates the deep facial structures (connective tissues, elastic fibres, muscles) producing better circulation and better tension. The treatment results in the improvement of the complexion. and in restoring elasticity, this causing wrinkles and sagging to decrease.

This invention may be applied in the making of casts of any part of the human body where a diathermy current can be applied for a treatment.

In accordance with the provisions of the. [patent statute, I have described my invention but I desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular form shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out in otfher ways without departing from. the spirit 0 broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the sco e of the appended claims, and by means of w ich, objects of my invention are attained and new results accomplished; as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown anddescribed are only some of many my invention, and therefore, I claim.

that can be employed toattain these objects and accomplish these results.

What I claim and desire to obtain byLet-f ter's Patent is 1. An electrode for application to a portion of the body, comprising a core of hardene'd'plastic material with a coating of metal completely. enclosing the same.

2. An electrode for application toa por-' tion of the body, comprising a core of hardened plastic material bearing upon one face an exact reproduction in inta lie of said portion of the body and a coating of metal completely enclosing said core.

3. An electrode for application-to a por- .tion of thebody comprising a core of hardened plastic material with an'electrodeposi- 'tion of metal completely covering the exte rior surface of the same.

4. An electrode'for application to a portion of the body comprising a core of hardnedplastic material bearing upon one face 'an exact reproduction in intaglio of said portion of the body and an electrodeposition of metalforniing a shellcompletely enclosing said core.

5. The process of making an electrode for r application to. a portion of the human body which comprises the steps of makinga ing of 'pulverulent plastic material and then covering the entire surface of the same with a metallic shell.

6. The process of making electrodesfor application to portions of the body which comprises casting a core of plastic material upon said portion of the body, removing the same, coating said core over its whole silrface with a conducting, linctuous material and then depositing by electrolysis a metallic shell entirely covering and enclosing said core.

This specification signed this 4th day of January, 1928.

GRETA BENJAMIN. 

